Eagle Rock Bridge

"Petroleum Center Bridge"

Most Recent Visit To Bridge: July 2, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name	Type	Road	Location	City	Crossing
Eagle Rock Bridge	Truss	Eagle Rock Road	Venango County, PA	Petroleum Center (Rural)	Oil Creek

Technical Facts

Construction Date	Rehabilitation Dates	Structure Length	Main Span Length	Number Main Spans	Deck Width	Builder
1884	1947, 1984	239 Feet	115 Feet	2	16 Feet	Morse Bridge Company of Youngstown, Ohio

This bridge is located in the center of Oil Creek State Park, and in my opinion it is the prime attraction, and a fitting centerpiece fo the park. It is also a wonderfully ornate structure, with decorative portal bracing design similar to that seen on Six Mile Creek Road in Michigan. Both the Six Mile Creek Road and the Eagle Rock Bridge were built by the Morse Bridge Company. The Eagle Rock Bridge is a particularly stunning example of the company's work since it is a two-span structure. The bridge features unusual "railroad style" v-lacing on the vertical members. I have not seen this v-lacing style, which features a separate rivet for each lacing piece, on many pin connected highway truss bridges. Restoration should be considered a priority for this bridge, although I am doubtful that it is.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 1884, pin connected, 2 span, 239'-long (2 @ 115'), Pratt thru truss bridge is supported on an ashlar substructure. The portal is detailed with corner brackets with pierced decoration and a lattice-filled pedimented top brace. The original floorbeams were built up sections, but a number of them and their hangers were replaced with rolled I sections in 1984. There are limited repairs to the verticals. The steel channel railings inside the truss lines were placed in 1947 as was the open grid steel deck. The bridge is historically and technologically significant as an early and fairly complete example of the important bridge type and as an example of the work of the Morse Bridge Company of Youngstown, OH.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries 1 lane of a road over a stream in Oil Creek State Park. The wooded setting with scattered, undistinguished 20th century residences does not have historic district potential.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes